Chapter 98: The Secret of the Village in the Deep Forest
As scheduled, after three days, Samson and Lucasta were present at Anatole’s villa.
Fortunately for Samson, the prime minister chose to depart in the afternoon, when the sunlight was fading.
Seeing the handsome guy wearing thick clothes and a hat like a terrorist, Anatole’s face showed surprise.
– The weather changed so he caught a cold. Lucasta quickly explained.
– When I return to my country, I will be fine. Samson said.
Anatole nodded and invited the two guests into his car. Today, he wants to lead them to a place that he has always hidden, a place full of pain.
The car passed through bustling roads and drove straight to the forest about two hundred and thirty kilometers away from the capital.
When they arrived, darkness had covered everything. Through the light of the car’s headlights, Lucasta realized that the road they were driving on was full of mud, plastic bags and empty bottles were scattered along both sides, looking no different from a landfill.
– Samson…
– It’s okay. Samson held her hand and reassured her.
After another ten minutes, the car turned onto a road leading deep into the deserted forest and stopped.
Both Lucasta and Samson turned to look at each other at the same time because they were so surprised. They did not expect that in such a remote and isolated place, there would be a village.
All they saw was a scene in complete contrast to the magnificent capital outside.
– This is the place I want to take you two to. The Prime Minister said as he opened the car door.
Samson could sense the deep sadness in Anatole’s words. He held Lucasta’s hand and carefully helped her get out of the car.
Somewhere there was the sound of an engine. He heard it and knew it was coming from a generator.
There was the sound of footsteps stepping on dry leaves and silhouettes of people appeared. They seemed timid and walked gingerly.
Lucasta could recognize that among them were men, women, elderly people, and even children.
When she followed Anatole to get closer, she was almost motionless when she saw their vampire-like appearance.
Long teeth, red gums, peeling and bleeding lips, skin with thick blood-red keloid scars, making the fingers and toes almost deformed.
Some children had blisters on their skin.
Just looking at them was enough to make Lucasta feel the pain in their bodies.
– Could this be the vampire disease that Aurora talked about? Samson spoke up.
– Do you know about this disease?
Although Samson spoke quietly to Lucasta, Anatole’s ears were very good and he quickly asked him.
He also honestly revealed that he has a friend named Aurora, a doctor at the Institute of Medical Sciences who is also researching this disease.
He also said that she had met Anatole a long time ago and had given him initial research documents.
– Turns out you’re her friend. We only saw each other a few times at conferences and didn’t talk much because she didn’t want to. I also don’t know what the reason is. Anatole nodded.
They continued deeper into the village and stopped in front of a house. When the door opened, Samson and Lucasta saw the refrigerators.
Just as he was about to ask what they contained, the prime minister quickly opened a refrigerator.
Inside the refrigerator was filled with bags of fresh blood, but nothing else. At this point, both Samson and Lucasta have found the answer. It turned out that Anatole bought blood to provide for these miserable people.
His actions came from a benevolent heart but unintentionally harmed many others.
If he hadn’t bought blood at a high price, perhaps William wouldn’t have done those cruel things.
– In the past, many people were buried alive or suffered cruel deaths. People believe that these miserable people are vampires and try to destroy them.
When Anatole said that, he stopped because he was too emotional. It took a few minutes for him to continue speaking and tell them that his father was the one who discovered this place and had quietly provided them with food and blood.
However, the pain gradually destroys their bodies, making them unable to have a single moment of joy.
– That year my father was one of the leaders of the Institute of hematology and blood transfusion and he bought blood from there to supply them. But later, the amount of blood used for patients in the hospital was not enough, so he bought it from many other sources, from other countries. When he died, I took over this job for him, but not long after, Thomas died and I switched to buying blood from William when he was still an unknown doctor. I didn’t know those two were the same person.
Anatole pursed his lips then went outside and sat on the steps. Lucasta and Samson also sat down next to him and silently looked at the unfortunate people huddled around the fire.
It seemed like they were grilling something, the aroma of meat wafted into Lucasta’s nose and occasionally, there was the sound of children’s laughter, the only sound that made everyone feel that happiness existed in this place.
The strange disease has caused them to be shunned by everyone, who sees them as demons, trying to destroy them. Physical pain and mental oppression make them cower and always show fear when they see strangers.
By now, Samson understood the true purpose behind William’s dried blood research project. He wanted to preserve them for a long time and transport them more easily, serving the main purpose of trading with Anatole, not for domestic patients.
If William knew that Anatole used blood as food for these people, he would probably apply the blood concentration method that Aurora’s research team had researched, even though it could not be transmitted to humans through veins.
– Why do they have dinner so late? Lucasta asked.
– Because they cannot go out during the day, they will stay up at night and sleep during the day like the characteristics of vampires in legends. Anatole explained.
After a sigh, he expressed his concerns about the blood supply for these patients.
When the world recognizes this as a disease, people will join hands to support them and donate blood. However, up to this point, there has been no convincing report to make public.
Anatole is also hoping that his group of friends, British doctors, will quickly research and provide convincing evidence and explanations that will be recognized by everyone.
The cold, damp air of northern France and inadequate living conditions weakened people who were already very weak from the strange disease.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
Looking at the child secretly looking towards her, tears suddenly welled up in Lucasta’s eyes. She raised her hand to wave at the baby, but he immediately disappeared into the darkness.
Generators were only used to preserve blood and people had to light fires for light.
– I’m ready to testify at any time. Please tell me when the police ask. Anatole stood up, looked into the dark space, and said.
– Yes sir. Samson replied softly.
The car left the forest and took them back to the city of Paris. Lucasta kept looking back until the village disappeared.
The images of the children haunted her. Being healthy is also a form of luck, she doesn’t need anything more.
Returning to the hotel when the clock struck midnight, neither Samson nor she were sleepy. So, they went out to the balcony together and looked at the panoramic view of the city. Tonight is their last night in Paris.
Samson hugged her from behind, enveloping her in his strong arms.
– Everything is fine. You and I will soon return to the castle and live happy days. She turned her eyes to the distance and whispered.
– Yes, we will give birth to lovely babies like you. My thousand-year dream is about to come true.
Lucasta closed her eyes, and leaned into his arms, remembering the time ten years ago.
The current results make her not regret her choice. If she and he always lived in the forest and did not go to the city, perhaps he would forever bury the secret of her identity and she would forever be tormented by mixed emotions because of her wrong love for him.
And William will never have to pay for what he did. And many more innocent people will die at his hands.
At the same time, in the house located in a small alley, the lovers Harvey and Aurora were preparing to go out for a walk.
The storm moved from France to here, weakening into a tropical depression creating endless drizzle and gray skies.
This weather makes everyone afraid to go out, but it is the ideal time for Aurora and Harvey to go on a date.
From yesterday until now, he has stayed in her house and has not returned to his apartment anymore.
– Today’s schedule is to go have breakfast, then go to the park, sit in a thatched hut watching the rain, talk to each other, then have lunch and visit a family with me. Next, go to the amusement park, have dinner, and then go to the Rose River to pray. Aurora said as she wrote everything down in a small notebook.
– Agree.
Harvey grabbed her hand and pulled her away. He has never been on a date and is not familiar with suitable places for dates, so he listens to Aurora for everything.
If she told him to go to the mountain, he would go and if she told him to go to the sea, he would do the same.
The feeling of having a girl arrange his schedule for him is also very interesting. He likes this.
Aurora put the bottle of dried blood and the glass in the car and sat in the passenger seat, waiting for Harvey.
He smiled, carefully fastened her seat belt, and kissed her on the lips. He didn’t expect that kissing could be addictive.
To be honest, even though he had been with her since yesterday, he didn’t dare look at her face much.
He couldn’t control himself when he saw those lips like rose petals. He couldn’t kiss her all day without stopping. He was afraid she would think he was a pervert.
The car slowly left the alley and drove to a restaurant. During this time, he didn’t need to worry about being caught by the hunters because they were sulking with Michael and gathered at the foot of Dragon Mountain to heal their wounds.
– Eat it, Harvey. Aurora brought a piece of carrot to his mouth and said.
Although he didn’t want to eat, because he wanted her to be happy, he opened his mouth. He felt it tasted not bad, quite sweet.
And as soon as he swallowed, she continued to bring up another piece. Following her wishes, he continued eating.
– Eat, don’t take care of me like a baby. Eat it.
Just now, before leaving the house, he drank a full glass of blood so he felt a bit full when he had to eat two more large pieces of carrots.
Yesterday, he noticed that Aurora’s food was all carrots, beets… in short, red vegetables.
And she constantly forced him to eat with her even though she knew clearly that he only needed to drink blood, he did not like human food.
– I want to eat pork, I won’t eat beef anymore.
A child’s immature voice caught Harvey’s attention. He turned his head to the side and looked at the child who was cooing with extremely gentle eyes.
He was thinking that if he had a child and now the child was begging him to feed him pork, he would be very happy. Babies are very adorable.
– Here, here’s your pork, my little pig. The baby’s mother put grilled pork into his little mouth and said.
Aurora also looked at the baby, but after only a few seconds she moved her eyes down to the plate full of vegetables and focused on eating.
Like many other girls, she loves being a mother. She loves children, but for him, she can give up that dream.
However, the way he looked at this moment told her that he also longed to hold the baby in his arms, and care for and love him.
After eating, they went to the park together and went to a thatched hut next to the lake to watch the rain fall.
Aurora leaned on his lap, dreamily looking at the transparent water beads dancing on the surface of the lake.
Warm on the outside and cold on the inside was a feeling she thought she wouldn’t have to feel when she was in Harvey’s arms. But now, she felt too cold.